EGHAM TOWN 3 DAVENTRY TOWN 0

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2014
EGHAM TOWN 3 (2) DAVENTRY TOWN 0 (0)
Scorers: Reis Stanislaus 2 (19, 29 (pen)), Dan Read (54)

Egham Town sit in sixth place after this comprehensive and comfortable win over a Daventry Town side who are struggling after a budget cut, player exodus and the resignation of the manager under whom they were promotion contenders last season. With a new boss in place they had lost at Chalfont St Peter (Egham’s next league opponents) 1-4 in midweek and never looked like threatening an Egham side looking to recover from their FA Trophy exit at Truro City.
A combination of accumulated yellow cards and his dismissal at Carshalton Athletic in the Surrey Senior Cup meant Josh Andrew had to sit out this game, and the next three. Daventry were presumably delighted, given that it was his pace and ferocious shooting that contributed hugely to Egham turning an early 0-1 deficit into 4-1 at the tail end of last season. That was the result that did for the Purples’ title assault (winning that match would have seen them go top). This time around Egham dominated from kick off and after four minutes it took a superb save from keeper Ben Heath to prevent Reis Stanislaus from scoring with a bullet header off a Mo Harkin corner. From the same source, two minutes later, Joe Chandiram’s header hit Egham forward Dan Read. Read had the next chance, his effort being cleared from danger by Ash Deeney on the line. He then twice combined with Stanislaus, the latter firstly driving the ball low and forcing Heath into a good save before doing it again and seeing Egham’s top marksman spank the ball into the top right corner. The goal settled Egham, who had no difficulty in managing what Daventry mustered in reply. The second goal came from the penalty spot, the kick being awarded after Joe Debayo fouled Brendan Matthew in the area. Stanislaus, who missed two penalties in the Sarnies’ last home league game, a 0-2 home reverse against Aylesbury, drilled this one into the roof of the net.
Daventry started the second half in determined mood with Said Ismael, only just on, finding space to run into before testing home keeper Jamie Norris with a well struck, angled drive. That was a brief spark that was extinguished with the third goal, on 54 minutes. It came from Read, who reacted superbly as a Stanislaus shot cannoned off Debayo, executing a perfect volley from 20 yards into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Egham kept their grip on proceedings without any undue alarm until the second minute of injury time when Fred Ayebere’s free kick dipped over the wall and needed a save from Norris.
As mentioned, Egham go to Chalfont St Peter for a league match next Saturday. They follow that with a Red Insure Cup second round match at Godalming Town on 18 November. Egham lost 0-3 at the same stage to the same opponents at the same ground last season, and went down 0-1 in the league on 25 August. They will be looking to do better this time round. The next home game is on 22 November, against Hanwell Town, who have taken the division by storm after coming up as winners of the South Midland League last season.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Norris, Luke Muldowney, Jake Galbraith, Mo Harkin, Wilson Gondwe, Ryan Lake, Brendan Matthew, Joe Chandiram, Dan Read, Reis Stanislaus, Louis Chandler-Joseph. Subs: Dwayne Williamson (Read, 92), Wayne Jackson (Harkin, 86), Ashley Quashie (Matthew, 84).